The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-08
OLD-TIME BOOKS.
Judge Howe's Entertaining Lecture to the
Young People at Plymouth Church.

Yesterday afternoon Judge D. w. Howe talked
most entertainingly and instructively to the
school children, at Plymouth Church, his subject
being "The Northwest Territory" that great
stretch Of country which was divided into ave
States-Ohio, Indiana Illinois. Michigan and
Wisconsin. He told of the first settlement of
the Territory, made at Marietta, O., of the
French and Indians, the good Jesuit mission
aries, the defeat of ST. Clair, and the great vic
tory over the Indians by Mad Anthony Wayne.
He told many interesting stories of pioneer lfe
and of the early schools. ''The main things
taught" be said, were spelling, reading. writing
and arithmetic The first American geography
was that of Morse, published in 1854, and if
geography was taught, this was probably the one
used. Grammar probably not taught for
some years, as Lindley Murray did not publish
his Grammar until 1895. The spelier used at
first was probably that of Thomas Dillworth. an
Englishman, but this was supplemented by
that of Noah Webster There-was little book
suppose, was also used in the early Territorial
schools, called the New England Primer 1t
contained the Shorter Catechism. and some poet
ical verses of Bible incidents, such as
Young Obadas
David Josias,
All were pious
When wicked children hooking saio
To a good man, Io up baldhead.
God was dspleased with them, and sent
Two bears which them in pieces rent
ut had in it few quaint pictures. One OF
them represented Satan with ferked tail
Satan in those times always being repre-
sented. l was taught, and my children, and
presume many of you have been, sweet. little
child's prayer-sweet because it carries older
people back to the innoceat days of childhood,
when loving mother bent over pillow and
| kissed US good night. | never knew where this
little prayer, Now l lay me down to Sleep came
| from until / found it in the New England
Primer
''The first library in the Northwest of which
there is any account was established at Ames, IN
| Athens county, Ohio. The settlers there felt
| the need of reading matter. Only one newspa-
| once in three months. They had no books. or
! but very few. So the people concluded to es-
tablish library. There little money in
| circulation at that time, and 1t was hard to get,
| SO each member Of the library company con-
trlbuted lot of bear and raeeoon skns-an ac-
| count says the BOYS caught the eoons-and
| these were sold. With the money thew bought
a lot of books in Boston. 1t was called the
| Western Library Association, but it was COM
| monty known the coon skin library The
books were mostly valuable and useful, en-
| cyclopedeas. histories, etc. There were few
| novels, the names of which may be familiar to
| your grandmothers, such as Scottish Chiefs,
| Children of the Abbey 'Evelna, Camilla and
| 'Beggar Girl
"In this age life seems to be chiefly fierce
competition for wealth and fame. With many
it is nard struggle for existence 1t is hard tG
get along nowadays with learning; it is infinite
| ly harder to get along without it.
| Mr.. McCuloch announced that on next Fri
day afternoon Gen. John Coburn would talk tt
the children, his subject being, Some Things &
Soldier Must Learn"